POLICE believe a hooded man who indecently assaulted a 12-year-old girl in Hamer has struck again.

They are urgently appealing for information about the sex fiend, who may well have followed up last Tuesday's assault in a Halifax Road alleyway with an attack on two more schoolgirls over the weekend.

An eleven-year-old and nine-year-old were grabbed as they rode bikes close to Syke Pond at about 7.40pm on Saturday. Both were indecently assaulted but one of them managed to kick the attacker before escaping.

In the first incident, the man fled behind shops after forcing the schoolgirl into an alleyway near Red Lane. All three girls escaped with minor injuries.

Detective Inspector Martin Jeffs said: "We believe the Syke and Hamer incidents are connected. It makes him a very dangerous individual and it is crucial we catch him before he attacks anyone else."

He admitted there were ongoing investigations into a series of recent sex attacks in Rochdale.

Police described the Syke Common attacker as white, in his mid 20s, 5ft 3ins tall and of medium build. He had short, gelled, spiky dark hair, a ring in his left eyebrow and bad skin. He was wearing a light blue denim jacket with a red shirt underneath, dark denim jeans and new white trainers.There was a ring on his right middle finger.

In a separate incident, an 11-year-old girl was indecently assaulted as she walked along the Stand in Kirkholt. She was attacked from behind after being forced into an alleyway between Balderstone Road and Kildare Crescent at 12.30am on Saturday.

Anyone with information on any of the attacks should call Rochdale CID on 0161 856 8543.